“…….”
Pey didn’t say a word and transformed into a cat, swiftly leaving the room. “Pey! Pey!” Summer, who had lost Pey, stumbled as she caught herself on the window sill. It would have been better if Pey had sent her body and soul apart earlier, but things had gotten unnecessarily complicated. Summer leaned out of the window and shouted loudly. “Pey! Please just kill me!” But Pey turned her back on Summer in the end. Summer lived as if she were replaying a recorded video. The behavior of Count Lindsey and his wife at the banquet was not the only thing that had been special; they had returned to their usual selves. At least, thanks to Daisy chatting brightly next to Summer, she was able to keep her sanity. Without Daisy, she would have gone mad. “Um, so you think I look like Daisy, and that’s why I said, ‘My name is Daisy’?” “Yeah.” “But I was originally Daisy!” Daisy laughed as if she had heard the most ridiculous joke. Mary, who was quietly peeling apples beside her, glanced at Daisy and then returned to her indifferent care for Summer. These days, Summer went on picnics in the garden every day. She couldn’t bear the thought of not capturing the pretty scenery in her eyes. “Mary. You’re the same.” “I know.” “……Huh?” “I know. The moment you named me Mary, I became Mary.” Summer looked at Mary in surprise. Mary was truly fascinating. She had the most jaded and lethargic expression in the world, yet she was skilled at her work. And she seemed uninterested because she knew everything. “Weren’t you uncomfortable? I just named you without your permission.” “You must already know how insane this world is.” “…….” “That means I wasn’t uncomfortable.” Mary mechanically continued to peel the apple, her lifeless eyes fixed on it as she placed it on the plate. “Mary. Can I name the others too? Would that be the right thing to do?” “Go ahead. Once you forget, they’ll return to their original state anyway. You won’t lose anything.” “Returning to their original state means losing existence again?” Summer asked hesitantly. Mary faced Summer directly and parted her lips. “Yes.” This world was created and destroyed through memory and forgetfulness. Forgotten beings vanish from this world at that moment. Mary understood this all too well. That’s why she couldn’t let Summer return to the original world. * * * Exactly one week after the second attempt had failed, a guest arrived at the Lindsey household. “Summer. Prepare to welcome the guest.” “A guest?” Summer followed Count Lindsey’s wife, who was acting unexpectedly, down to the reception room. Seeing her say something other than the scripted lines, it was clear she was one of the main characters. XX Boring world. Summer cursed this world with sharp insults as she followed the lady into the reception room. By the way, who could the guest be? First of all, Ian Langerster was definitely not it. If there was a recent main character involved in an incident, “Russell Bertrand?” Summer blurted out the name that suddenly popped into her head. “Summer. Be careful with your titles.” “Yes. I will.” At the gentle admonition from Lady Lindsey, Summer quickly shut her mouth. Since meeting Russell Bertrand by the lake, Summer had often thought of him. It was because his words about wanting to receive time had stuck in her mind. As they reached the door to the reception room, Count Lindsey’s laughter could be heard from beyond the door. “Summer!” The guest was the protagonist of this world, Julian Dudley. Summer was taken aback and stepped back. Why? When she had reached out at the banquet, she had been blocked by a wall, making it impossible to approach. ‘Why are you all so nonchalant?’ This wall felt enormous and overwhelming, as if it were the will of the gods. The protagonists passed through the wall so easily, just like now. “Summer. You don’t look well. Is something wrong?” “No. Please sit down. I was just surprised that it was you, Julian.” “It was sudden, wasn’t it? Actually, I wanted to ask you something.” Julian Dudley smiled brightly and lightly hugged Summer. After finishing their greeting with the embrace, they sat on the sofa in the reception room. Soon, a maid set the table. Summer dropped a sugar cube into her black tea and initiated the conversation. “What do you want to ask, Julian?” Summer looked at Julian with a kind expression. To Summer, Julian was like a celebrity. Sparkling. A grain of sand. The sea. It wouldn’t be so bad to fall into the sea. Summer sipped her tea, letting out a deflated laugh as her mind scattered like fragments. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t in her right mind that she kept laughing. She might have felt happy to see her favorite protagonist alive and moving in front of her again. This was an excuse. Julian, who seemed unfazed by Summer’s seemingly deranged laughter, hesitated for a moment, took a sip of tea, and bravely opened his mouth. “Did you attend the debutante ball?” What kind of question was that? Summer’s laughter abruptly stopped. “Of course.” Summer replied in a slightly deflated voice. At her answer, Julian lowered his head with a look of surprise. “Summer. I think I’ve been out of it lately. There’s no excuse for this. I’m sorry.” “Why are you suddenly apologizing? Nothing happened at the banquet. I was actually upset that I couldn’t help you when you were being treated unfairly.” To be precise, she couldn’t help him because she was blocked by a transparent barrier. “Until just before entering the banquet hall, I was definitely thinking about you, Summer. But as soon as I entered, I couldn’t think of you at all until I left. I wanted to go ahead and greet you first. I’m really sorry.” Julian must be an angel. Seeing him use the protagonist’s ability just to apologize to such an extra. Summer knew why Julian had temporarily forgotten about her. It must have been the will of the gods, or rather, the author. Not to interfere with the main events. The only consolation was that this novel had a happy ending. The female protagonist, Julian Dudley, would achieve everything. “It’s okay. I couldn’t call out to you either.” “Summer. This might sound strange, but I’ve been experiencing odd things lately.” “Like what?” “For instance, something that was clearly a precious memory, but I completely forget it the next day, or something I remembered right up until the moment before, but when I came to, strange things had happened.” Oh. That’s sharp. Summer muttered inwardly. “Julian. Then……” “So, I was wondering if you’d like to go to a social party with me this week?” She had intended to tell him to go to the temple instead. Summer’s eyes widened at the unexpected party invitation. Is the author blocking something right now? Is it not allowed for Julian to go to the temple now? Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for the solution to her dilemma to be another party invitation. Summer gave up on her thoughts. Although Julian had a sharp side as a protagonist, the author’s influence was absolute. “A social party? Well, I’m not sure.” To be honest, Summer was no longer fascinated by this luxurious and extravagant play. At first, banquets and parties had been fun, but now just thinking about them was exhausting. It felt like a company dinner. “I wanted to see the party hosted by Duke Langerster. Would you come with me?” “The Duke Langerster is hosting a party?” He must be a noble too. How long has it been since the royal banquet ended that he’s already throwing a party? Summer shook her head wearily. I can guarantee that a homebody like me would collapse soon after being possessed in a fantasy world. Just like Summer now. “Summer, please. I have no friends.” “If Julian asks, I have to go.” In the end, Summer accepted the request. Though she was reluctant, the thought of seeing Julian struggling alone in the social scene without any allies was more overwhelming. There was also a sense of pity for Julian, who moved like a puppet of the author. How dare she, a mere foreign substance in this world. If she couldn’t approach Julian again, blocked by a transparent barrier, she was prepared to do something crazy to reach anyone she could. The reason was simple. Summer would be fine once she returned to the original world, but Julian Dudley had to live in this world for the rest of her life. And based on what Summer had experienced so far, this world was not kind to Julian. She had to endure far too many twists and turns for the happiness of the ending. Perhaps it reminded her of her own self, dreaming of happiness in the conclusion while taking short naps in a three-pyeong room in South Korea, hoping to one day achieve a normal and peaceful life. “Thank you!” “What for?” Julian joyfully grabbed Summer’s hand. As Summer watched Julian’s happiness, she thought of Ian Langerster. She would have to try to return to the original world a few days after the Duke Langerster’s party. The image of Ian Langerster, looking like a rain-soaked wolf, lingered in her mind. Summer wanted to return to the original world; she didn’t want to leave an indelible scar on someone.